ABSTRACT

Nordic experiences of applying participatory approaches in research and development of sustainable agriculture have been highly successful. The farmers involved were participating in certification programs for sustainable agriculture systems, most of them in the organic farming certification scheme. The findings from the research reflect the current European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that is changing from a production focus to a multifunctional focus, and especially to deal with increasing environmental concerns. The results also reflect current difficulties over how to create incentive structures for sustainability, rules that support creativity in handling increasing local and global environmental problems, instead of forcing farmers with state regulations to comply with top-down-created regulations and subsidies that are inflexible and not site specific.